Photographic-printing machine



Nov. 9 1926.

G. LAUBE PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINE Filed June 18. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR r/Jzye'lame BY Patented Nov. 9, 1926.

UNITED STATES remesa GROVER LAUBE, OF LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR T GEORGE M. WINSTEAD, OF LONG- BEACH, CALEFORNIA.

PHOTOGRAPHIC-PRIN TIN G MACHINE.

Application filed June 18, 1923. Serial No. 646,003.

This invention relates to printing machines, and particularly to photographic printing machines adapted to be used in conjunction with ordinary lamp house cabinets.

In the use of present photographic printing machines, it is not possible to hold the sensitized printing paper in perfect contact with, or with uniform pressure against the film or glass negatives, because film negatives are usually slightly wrinkled, curled or wavy, and furthermore, glass photographic negatives are sometimes of uneven thickness or even wedge-shaped.

The main object of the invention is to provide a printing machine comprising means for applying the platen or pressureback -to the sensitized paper against the negative with uniform pressure throughout the entire area thereof, whereby the photographic impression on the sensitized paper will be clear and of uniform tone throughout its entire area. v

Another object is to provide a printing machine including a sectional platen or pressure-back and means for iirst applying one section to a portion of the sensitized paper to hold the same against the negative for a suficient time to enable the operator to remove his hands from under the platen or pressure-back before the other section thereof is applied to the remaining portion of the sensitized paper.

A still further object is to provide a platen pressure means which can be readily adjusted to vary the pressure of the platen against the negative and printing paper.

A further object is to provide a switching mechanism connected to the lighting circuit, whereby a plurality of exposures can be made of the same duration of time.

Another object is to provide a printing machine including means whereby the electric printing light may be automatically intermittently switched on or o on a printing operation.

A still further object is to provide means for automatically numbering each picture printed on the machine.

The above and other incidental objects of a similar nature, which will be hereinafter more specifically treated, are accomplished by such means as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, described. in the following specification, and then particularly pointed out in the claims which are appended hereto and form a part-of this application.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the machine taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 with the platen in printing position.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 2 with one section of the platen in printing position and the other section of said platen raised above the sensitized paper.

Y Fig. t is a view similar to Fig. 2 with the platen entirely raised above the sensitized paper.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig. 1 illustrating the numbering device. i

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the light switch.

Referring in detail to the drawings, 1 (see Fig. 3) indicates a base plate which may be mounted at an angle of substantially 4:50 on a lamp house cabinet 2. Said plate is provided with a light opening 3 and with a rabbet 4 at the upper edge of said opening to receive the edges of a photographic glass negative 5, or a glass plate and hold the'same over said opening with its upper surface flush with the upper surface of the base plate. A platen 6 is hinged above its upper edge to the base plate 1 above the opening 3 by hinges 7, and is preferably formed in two sections, an upper section 8, and a lower section 9, hinged together at their adjoining edges by hinges 10, the upper section being about one-half the length of the lower section. Hinges 7 (see Fig. 1) each comprise hinge members 11 and 12, and a hinge fulerum rod 13 whit-.b extends through knuckles 14 and 15 on said members respectively, the knuckles 14 having vertical slots 16 to receive the ends of said rods to provide for adjustment of the position of the pla-ten up or down with relation to the base plate 1, to accommodate negatives of varying thicknesses.

Hinges 10 comprise each two hinge members, a hinge member 12 above described, a Y

ends of which engage the hinge members l7 and tend to swing the platen section 9 upwardly with relation to the section S.

On the under sides of plate sections 8 and 9 are secured felt sheets 22 and 23 respectively, which contact with the sensitized paper during a printing operation. A plate is secured to the upper tace ol base plate l adjacent the upper edge ot platen 6, carrying bearings 26 and 2,7 at the lower and upper ends respectively. Coil springs 28 are disposed on the tulcrum rod 13, one end of each of the springs extending under the hinge member l2 of hinges 7, while the other ends thereof engage the under side of pins 29 projecting from bearing members 2G, the springs normally maintaining the seetional platen 6 out ot contact with the base plate l of the apparatus.

A bar 30 is longitudinally and centrally secured to the upper side or' the platensection 9 and is provided on its lower end with an upturned lip` 31 that engages the end of a track bar 82 to limit the upward movement of the platen when it is released after a printing operation. One end 33 of track bar 32 is pivotally mounted in a bearing 34 secured to the upper side and edge ot platen section 8 and extends longitudinally of the platen above the bar 30 not quite to the lower edge of section 9 and carries in its lower end a set screw 35 for adjusting the pressure on the platen. Journaled in bearing members 26 are a pair ot V-shaped bearing rollers 36, disposed one above the other, bearing members 27 also carrying a pair of similarly disposed rollers 37, a pressure rod being reciprocatingly mounted between the pairs of bearing rollers 35 and 87. Pressure rod 40 extends over the track bar 32 and carries on its free end a contact roller 41 that engages the track bar as clearly shown in Figs. l and 2 ot the drawii'igs.

A rock sha-tt 42 extends transversely of base plate l and is journaled in bearing members 26 and in bearings 43 and 44 secured to the base plate. Rigidly mounted on rock shaft 42 between bearing members 26 is an arm 45, its tree end being pivotally connected to the upper end of pressure rod 40, whereby the rod will be reciprccated on a rocking motion of the shaft 42. An operating handle 47 is rigidly secured on the shaft 42v between the bearings 43 and 44 for operating the apparatus, as will be more particularly set forth.

A numbering stamp 50 (see Figures l, 2 and 5) of usual construction is pivotally mounted at 51 in a bracket 52 secured to the upper corner ot the platen section 8, the upper edge of the section being notched as at 53 to accommodate the imprinting end ot o't' the stamp when the platen is brought against the sensitized paper on the negative for imprinting a number on the photographic print. A plate is secured to the top of the numberingstamp 50 which is enged by an arm "55, mounted on an arm 56 projecting from and secured to one of the bearing members 2G when the platen 6 is raised, whereby when the stamp is swung on its pivot and the type 57 of the stamp, is brought into printing position it will wipe an inking roller 58 secured on a shaft 5) journaled at its ends in hinge members 12, thus inking the type so that they will number the picture when the platen is swung down against the sensitized paper on the negative.

An electric switch 60 is mounted on the under side ot the base plate l for controlling an electric lamp 6l, located within the lamp box housing 2, the switch including a contact plate 62, switch arm 63 adapted to wipe the plate, and a spring 64 connected to one end of arm 63 'for normally holding the contact end of the arm out ot' contact with the contact plate and breaking the lamp circuit. The lamp circuit includes a battery 65, line 66 connected to one pole oi said battery and to the contact plate G2, a line 67 is connected to the other pole oit' the battery terminal ot said lamp and to the contact arm 68. A switch closing lever 70 is pivoted in a bearing 7l on the base plate and extends through a slot- 72 in the plate ior engagiinT the switch arm 623, there being a block 73 or insulation insaid arm with which said lever 70 contacts to prevent short circuiting. An arm 75 is secured on the rock shaft 42 for engaging the uppeil end ci lever 70 so that the lever will engage switch arm 63 and close the switch 60 and light the lamp 61 when the shaft 42 is turned by the handle 47 to swing the platen 6 against the sensitized paper as illustrated in Fig. 2.

The operation of my invention is as follows. The platen 6 being raised, as shown in Fig. 4 ot the drawings, a negative 5 is placed in the rabbets 4 over the opening 3 and a sheet 8G oi sensitized paper placed upon said negative, which sheet is iirst held in position on said negative by the operators hand. The operator then grasps the handle 47 and swings the same downwardly toward the base plate l, which correspondingly turns the snail 42 and the arm 45. The arm 45V through the link 46 draws the pr re rod 40 downwardly, whereupon the pressure rod roller 4l, engaging the track bar at its upper end, travels downwardly over said bar and swings the platen G downwardly against the tension ot spring 28 until the upper section 8 thereof iirst engages the upper portion oi the sensitized paper'dSO and clamps saidr portion against the upper portionof the negative 5. The sensitized sheet being thus elampet-L against the negative, the

.L leit operator removes his left hand from saidsheet and continues with his right hund to swing down the handle 47, which through the medium of shaft 42, arm 45, and link 46, causes the rod 40 to travel downwardly and the roller 41 to travel correspondingly down the track bar 32, whereby the platen section 9 through said bar and the set screw in contact with bar 30 is caused to swing down against the tension of spring 18, against the remaining lower portion of the sheet 80 and clamp said portion of the sheet firmly against the remaining portion of the negative 5. rlhe pressure rod is so positioned by the rollers 36 and 37, and the set screw 35 so adjusted that the engagement of the pressure rod roller 41 with the bar 32 through said set screw and bar 30, causes both sections 8 and 9 of the platen to clamp the sheet 8O with uniform pressure against the negative 5 throughout the entire area of said sheet and negative. By adjusting the set screw the track bar 32 may be adjusted on its pivot with relation to the pressure bar roller 41 to vary the pressure of the platen.

As the platen section 8 is swung down against the sheet 80, the stamp plate 54 is disengaged from plate 55, whereupon the stamp that is inked by roller 58 swings by gravity on its pivots 51 until its impression end enters the recess 53 in the upper edge of said platen section, the type on the impression end of the stamp contacting with the back of the sheet 8O at one upper corner thereof and impresses the number of the print on said sheet as clearly illustrated in F ig. 5. The numbering wheels of the stamp are changed each time by hand before the next print is made so that the stamp will number each sheet properly.

When the platen is swung down each time and the sheet 80 clamped thereby against the negative 5, the arm 75 engages and swings the lever on its pivot 71, whereupon said lever, engaging switch arm 63, swings said arm upon contact 62 and closes the switch 60 and the lamp circuit, thus lighting the printing lamp 61 so that the light thereof, projecting through opening 3 and the negative will print the negative on the sensitized sheet 80 until the platen is raised. Upon raising the platen the arm disengages the lever 70 and the spring 64 swings the switch arm 63 out of contact with contact 62, thus opening the switch 60 and the lamp circuit and putting out the lamp 61 and ending the printing of the pictur-e.

IVhat I claim is- 1. In a print-ing machine, a base plate provided with a light opening and means for holding a negative over said opening, a sectional platen, means for swinging said platen against the sensitized sheet upon said negative, means acting against the platen, for exerting and equally distributing a unim form pressure on said platen, whereby the sensitized paper will be held in uniform engagement with the negative throughout its entire area and an adjusting screw engaging` one of the platen sections for `varying the pressure against said platen.

2. In a printing machine, a base plate provided with a light opening, a platen formed in two sections hinged together, one of said sections being hinged to said base plate, means for normally swinging said sections away from said plate, means for normally swinging said sections out of clamping alignment with each other, a track bar pivoted to one of said sections and extending over the other section, a pressure bar reciprocatively mounted on said base plate, and means for reciprocating said pressure bar so that said bar will contact with and travel over said track bar in one direction to swing said platen sections successive ly into clamping position with uniform pressure against the sensitized sheet upon said negative.

3. In a printing machine, a base plate provided with a light opening, a platen formed in two sections hinged together, one of said sections being hinged to said base plate, means for normally swinging said sections away from said plate, means for normally swinging said sections out of clamping alignment with each other, a track bar pivoted at one end to one of said sections and extending ov-er said sections, a set screw mounted in the free end of said track bar engaging said other section, a pressure bar reciprocatively mounted on said base plate, and means for reciprocating said pressure bar so that said bar will contact with and travel over said track bar in one direction toswing said platen sections successively into clamping position with uniform pressure against the sensitized sheet upon said negative.

4. In a printing machine, a base plate provided with a light opening, a platen for clamping a sheet of sensitized paper on said negative, hinges for securing said platen to said base plate, one member of said hinges being secured to said base plate and provided with upwardly extending slots, the other member of said hinges being secured to said platen and formed with knuckles, the fulcrum pin of said hinges extending through said knuckles and said slots, whereby the platen may adjust itself with relation to the base plate to accommodate nega tives of varying thickness thereunder, and means for swinging said platen toward said base plate to clamp a sheet of sensitized paper upon said negative. Y

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 26th day of May, 1923.

GROVEB, LAURE. 

